Improvement in fire-proof roofs



A. B. MULLETT.

Fire Proof Roof. N0-168,-277. Patented Sept 18,1875.

YWITNIESSES l INVYENTOR I I /ZPMM ".PETERS, PHOTWLITHOGRAFHER, WASIHNGTON, D C.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE ALFRED B.. MULLETT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IM'PRQVEMENT IN FIRE-PROOF ROOFS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,277, dated September 28, 1875 application filed April 3, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. MULLETT, of the city and county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Roofs, of which the following is a specification:

The present invention relates, primarily, to roofs for fire-proof buildings, but is applicable to roofing for houses generally.

My invention consists, first, in a coating or layer of fire and water proof cement, having hooks or cleats embedded therein, and secured by the setting or hardening of the cement as meansfor attaching or anchoring a sheathing of copper or othersheet metal. Itthus not tinly precludes the stripping off of the sheet metal by the wind, but also protects the building temporarily in the most effective manner against the entrance of fire or Water-after the metallic sheathing has been burned off, for examattached by the hooks or cleats, as hereinv after more fully set forth.

Figure l is a top view of a roof illustrating this invention, showing successive layers stripped off to expose layers beneath. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the improved roof applied to metallic beams or girders. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section .of the improved roof applied to a plank ceiling.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The substructure S of a roof constructed according to this invention is not peculiar, and may consist of metallic beams z and plate- -arches y, as shown in Fig. 2, or wooden rafters a: and planking w, with cleats 1; ap-

plied to the latter, as represented in Fig. 3. A

level foundation is formed on this .bya stratum, A, of coarse concretesay, of gravel, sand, and lime, filling in the spacesbetween the beams or cleats, and attached and supported thereby. When this has set a layer or coating, B, of Portland or equivalent cement is applied, the same adhering to the concrete, and forming a fire and. water proof surface. In this layer anchoring hooks or cleats h are embedded, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. These hooks may be of Z shape, as represented, or of any equivalent form, and are arranged in lines coincident with what are to be the seams of a copper or other sheet-metal sheathing, G, which completes the structure. The anchoring-hooks receive the adjoining edges of successive sheets, and securely attach the latter, so as to preclude stripping by the wind. Lock-seams may be formed beneath the heads of the hooks, as represented, or the sheets of sheathing may be united otherwise, if preferred.

Should the metallic sheathingbecome leaky or be burned off, an effectual temporary barrier against the entrance of Water or fire is furnished by the coating of cement beneath the same, while the entire foundation operates always as a superior non-conductor of heat to arrest the direct rays of the sun in summer.

. The improved roof is adapted to be built and repaired with facility, and may be inclined to any extent required or preferred.

The following is claimed as new in this improvement in roofs, namely l. A'coating or layer of fire and Water' proof cement, havinga hooks or cleats embedded therein, and secured by the setting or hardening of the cement, for attaching or anchoring a sheathing of sheet metal, and forming a supplemental protection, in the'manner herein set forth.

2. The combination of a foundation, A, of concrete, a coating or layer, B, of cement, anchoring hooks or'cleats h, embedded in the cement, and supported thereby, and copper or other sheet-metal sheathing, 0, attached to the hooks or cleats, substantially as herein specified, to constitute an improved windproof and fire and water proofroof.

A. B. MULLETT. Witnesses:

JAS. L. EWIN,

CHAS. J. Goocn. 

